MEDIC ST 7401HO - Medicine, Cancer & Palliative Care and Psychiatry
Teaching Hospitals - Semester 1 - 2025
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code MEDIC ST 7401HO Course Medicine, Cancer & Palliative Care and Psychiatry Coordinating Unit Medical Studies Term Semester 1 Level Postgraduate Coursework Location/s Teaching Hospitals Units 12 Contact 37 hours Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N Prerequisites MEDIC ST 3501, MEDIC ST 3502 and MEDIC ST 3503 OR MEDIC ST 3000BHO Restrictions Available to Doctor of Medicine students and MBBS students Assessment In rotation assessment, MCQ & OSCE Course Staff
Course Coordinator: David Holden
To contact the Course Coordinator please email: medicst7401@adelaide.edu.auCourse Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.
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Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
1 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of the impact of pathological, environmental and psychosocial
processes on adult medical, mental health, cancer and palliative care presentations.2 Demonstrate skills in history taking, physical examination and mental state assessment in the context
of medical, mental health, cancer and palliative care patients.3 Formulate differential diagnoses for patients in the context of medical, mental health, cancer and
palliative care presentations.4 Explain the value, strengths and limitations of key investigations, including the appropriate sequence,
timing and application of results to confirm or refute diagnostic hypotheses in the context of medical,
mental health, cancer and palliative care patients.5 Demonstrate knowledge of evidence-based patient management and the use of screening and risk
assessments for important and commonly seen conditions in the context of medical, mental health,
cancer and palliative care settings.6 Demonstrate safe prescribing skills for a limited range of conditions in the context of medical, mental
health, cancer and palliative care patients.7 Perform simple therapeutic interventions and procedures within the scope of practice that are relevant
to the management of medical, mental health, cancer or palliative care patients.8 Present clear and concise written and oral clinical case presentations in a variety of contexts. 9 Describe legislation relevant to capacity assessment, substitute decision making, end of life and mental
health.10 Display professional attitudes and behaviour in interactions with patients, relatives, colleagues and
staff.11 Communicate effectively with patients their families and carers and other healthcare professionals
including the options and implications of ethical issues related to patient care.12 Describe the legal responsibilities of health professionals in accepting a duty of care to patients and
colleagues and implementing a human rights-based approach to health.13 Identify opportunities and demonstrate a proactive approach to facilitating effective near-peer
appraising and feedback.University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency
Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.
1, 2, 11, 12 Attribute 7: Digital capabilities
Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.
6, 7, 10 Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
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Learning Resources
Required Resources
All students should factor in the cost of their own laptop device. Required learning resources and readings will be provided on-line via the learning management system (MyUni). There are no prescribed textbooks, but students will need to access various online resources (including the Australian Medicines Handbook, Therapeutic guidelines and Up-to-date).Recommended Resources
Materials for all courses are provided through MyUni. There will be a range of peer-reviewed articles – both as prescribed and recommended readings. Students may be required to submit written assignments via a Turnitin digital submission portal which can be accessed through learning management system (MyUni).Online Learning
The learning management system (MyUni) will be used as a digital platform to:
- host online teaching activities, resources including supporting documents, videos, and external web-links.
- help students navigate learning pathways through the course.
- communicate course and program related announcements to students.
- promote student discussion and communication via Discussion Boards.
- enable students to access and complete formative and summative quizzes and submit assignments.
These resources will be released at appropriate time points during the semester and available for the duration
of the course. -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
Experiential learning in the clinical setting is the predominant learning approach in this course. Experiential learning activities include observation of, and participation in, clinical teams. Students will have opportunity to observe and experience clinical teams within both inpatient and outpatient settings. Placements over the 20-week semester typically comprise 6 weeks in an Adult Medicine, hospital in-patient ward setting; 6 weeks in Cancer, Palliative Care and Specialty Medicine and 6 weeks in Psychiatry. In addition, there is a week at the beginning of the semester where students are provided with general classroom-based learning opportunities and the final week of semester concentrates on assessment activities. Students’ clinical performance will be observed and they will be required to prepare and deliver case presentations in both oral and written formats.
Learning resources and activities will include online modules (incorporating videos and various written resources) and participation in tutorials, workshops and simulations. These are designed to reinforce key concepts and important professional and clinical skills relating to adult medicine, cancer medicine, palliative care and psychiatry.
By engaging with the research literature - for example, to investigate the rationale for current best practice - students will have opportunity to further develop research and academic literacy skills introduced in the Bachelor of Medical Studies program. Students will also be required to reflect on their experiences during clinical placement and their participation in the formal learning activities.Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
Workload for the individual students will vary from week to week but students can assume that on average they will work a 48 hour week which will include clinic sessions, seminars, workshops, tutorials and private study but does not include after hours call.
Learning Activities Summary
Workshops (face to face)
Tutorials (face to face)
Clinical Work Integrated Learning (including placements) (face to face)
Seminar (face to face)Specific Course Requirements
All students must comply with the clinical placement requirements as outlined on the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences website and the incidental fee schedule (e.g. criminal history check, police clearances, immunisations). All students must be registered with AHPRA. -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
*To pass the semester, a student must pass the hurdle of the combined score in the MCQ test and OSCE exam.Assessment Task Task Type Hurdle Requirement Learning Outcomes Formative Clinical
placement supervisor
reportsFormative No 1,2,3,5,7,8,10,11 Clinical placement
supervisor reportsSummative Yes 1,2,3,5,7,8,10,11 Logbook Summative Yes 2,7,11 Entrustable
Professional Activities
(EPAs)Summative Yes 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 Case presentations Summative Yes 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,12 Knowledge tests Summative Yes 1,3,4,5,6,9,12 MCQ writing and
critiqueSummative Yes 1,3,4,5 *Objective Structured
Clinical Exam (OSCE)Summative Yes* 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,10, *MCQ Test Summative Yes*
1,3,4,5,6,9,12 Assessment of
Professional
behaviours including
completion of online
moduleSummative Yes 10
See assessment-related requirements for further explanation.Assessment Related Requirements
Students must have access to a personal electronic device capable of running all required assessment software applications and maintaining a minimum of 3 hours of battery operation. Students are responsible for ensuring devices are fully charged prior to assessments.
To successfully complete this course students must demonstrate competence in three distinct domains of assessment. Each comprises a “hurdle” assessment for progression:
Rotation Assessment Students will be assessed via a variety of methods. These will include placement attendance, logbook completion, workplace-based assessments (Entrustable Professional Activities, ward supervisor reports), case reports and case presentations. Students will need to demonstrate overall competence in each of these activities. Any behaviours of concern noted by AMS tutors, staff or ward supervisors will be disclosed to the course coordinator and managed according to the notification of behaviours of concern process (refer to Assessment of Professional Behaviour in the Doctor of Medicine). Students will be provided with the opportunity to remediate tasks, where appropriate.
Course Assessment Students will be required to successfully complete knowledge- and performance-based assessment of their ability to apply knowledge of key concepts in Adult Medicine, Cancer and Palliative Care and Psychiatry across all Domains (Clinical Practice, Professionalism & Leadership, Health & Society, and Science & Scholarship). The knowledge test will be in the form of a MCQ test, where the performance-based test will be in an OSCE format. Each component is weighted equally. Satisfactory performance across both
components (combined standard set score of at least 50) and within each component (standard set score of at least 45) is necessary for progression.
Domain-based Assessment Students will need to demonstrate competence in assessments related to specific Domain-based assignments and assessment in the course. These may be comprised of assessments of professional behaviour or assignments.
Students will be provided with opportunities for additional assessments, where appropriate, in each of the assessment domains.Assessment Detail
Clinical placement supervisor reports - These comprise allocation of scores for performance in the 4 domains (Clinical Practice, Professionalism and Leadership, Health and Society, Science and Scholarship); and a global assessment component incorporating assessment of clinical logbook. Reports will be obtained for each of the placement blocks (6 weeks Adult Medicine; 6 weeks Cancer, Palliative Care and Medical Specialty and 6 weeks Psychiatry). In addition, at week 3 of each clinical placement, supervisors will provide students with a formative report reflecting their performance to date in that rotation.
Logbook of Health Encounters – the logbook is kept across all placements and documents health encounters with patients, families and other health professionals.
Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) (1 x clinical case and 1 x prescribing or teamwork) – EPAs are opportunities to receive feedback about important clinical tasks. Students will have an opportunity to present prescribing and teamwork EPAs during the rotations. Students will present a clinical case EPA for each rotation looking at their ability to conduct a clinical assessment of a patient.
Case presentations (1 x rotation) - these are marked according to a rubric, which builds on expected competencies from the courses MEDIC ST 3501 and MEDIC ST 3502 including evidence based management and mental status examination.
Knowledge tests (3 tests) – One test will relate to Adult Medicine and two tests will relate to Psychiatry. MCQ writing and critique – Students will follow guidelines to construct an MCQ to better understand this commonly used form of assessment. This activity will relate to Adult Medicine and Cancer, Palliative Care and Medical Specialty rotations.
Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE) – In the Objective Structured Clinical Exam students are required to demonstrate competencies in history taking, examination, management (including prescribing skills) and counselling for Adult Medicine, Cancer, Palliative Care and Psychiatry content. Students must attain a satisfactory score (as determined by appropriate standard setting) in order to be applicable for passing the course.
MCQ Test – This test will assess knowledge of Adult Medicine, Cancer, Palliative Care and Psychiatry and all four domains (Professionalism and Leadership, Clinical Practice, Health and Society and Science and Scholarship).
Assessment of Professional Behaviours: Students will be required to comply with the expectations of Professional Behaviours as set out in the document “Assessment of Professional Behaviour in the Doctor of Medicine”. In addition, students will be required to complete an online module outlining the principles of the Professional Behaviour prior to attending clinical placements.Submission
e-submission, e-marking of assignmentsCourse Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
GS8 (Coursework Grade Scheme) Grade Description CN Continuing FNS Fail No Submission NFE No Formal Examination F Fail NGP Non Graded Pass P Pass C Credit D Distinction HD High Distinction RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- International Student Support
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
- YouX Student Care - Advocacy, confidential counselling, welfare support and advice
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Elder Conservatorium of Music Noise Management Plan
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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Fraud Awareness
Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.
The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.
